Half to william f



(No Model.)

G. J; DAVISON.

FORGEPS FOR DENTAL WEDGES.

No. 442,107. Patented Dec. 9, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE JAMES DAVISON, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- IIALF TO WILLIAM F. DAVISON, OF SAME PLACE.

FORCEPS FOR DENTAL WEDGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,107,

dated December 9, 1890.

Application filed April 29,1890- Serial No. 349,881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE JAMES DAVI- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmonchin the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have-invented certain new and useful Improvements in Forceps for Dental \Vedges; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to forceps employed by dentists for inserting and adjusting dental wedges between the teeth for the purpose of separatin g two adjacent teeth, in order to gain space to facilitate plugging and other operations, and also to a wedge especially designed for use therewith. It has been customary H heretofore to insert the wedge for such purposes from the outside and adjust it therein, either by. means of a mallet or by placing one jaw of a pair of forceps behind the teeth and pressing upon the head of the wedge with the other jaw, each of which operations not only has a tendency to force the teeth inward and close the arch at the front, but also leaves the bulk of the wedge in the wayof the free manipulation of the plugging or other instrument to be used, and is also attended with considerable pain to the patient.

The object of my invention is to overcome these objections as far as possible by provid ing a pair of forceps and wedge adapted to be used therewith, by which the wedge, after being partially inserted from the inside, can be. forced outward. This I accomplish by providing a pair of forceps of the general class known separating-forceps, one jaw of which is bifurcated and provided at its ends with elastic cushions for pressing against the front of the teeth each side of the wedge, while the other jaw is provided with means for engaging the wedge. By this means the wedge, after being partially inserted from the inside, can be forced outward between the teeth until the necessary space is obtained, the point only of the wedge protruding from the front of the teeth and the space to be obtained being at all times unobstructed from view.

I have found that bythe use of my device the separation of the teeth is accomplished with less pain to the patient, and the arch of the teeth is opened more effectually than where the wedge is forced through from the front.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings two forms thereof which I have used with practical success, and will now proceed to describe the same.

Figure l is a perspective View of my llll proved forceps with the jaws open, showing awedge attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same, showing its manner of operation. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the wedge-engaging jaw, showing the manner of securing the wire hook therein. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 represent enlarged views of the different forms of wedges adapted to be used with my improved forceps. Fig. 7 is a modifieation of my improved forceps.

The same letters of reference indicate identical parts in all the figures.

My preferred construction of forceps is of the general kind known as separating-forceps, and consists of two members A B, pivoted together at the point 0, a suitable spring 0 being interposed between the handle ends of the members A B for the purpose of clos ing the jaws. The jaw A is provided at its end with two prongs a a, which extend outward longitudinally for a short distance, then downward at about a right angle to the body portion of the jaw A, the ends of said prongs being of somewhat larger diameter than the portion a, as shown at a, and provided each with a central cavity, in which is inserted a rubber or other elastic cushion a a adapted to bear against the teeth when the forceps are in use. The end of the jaw 13 is turned downward at b substantially at a right angle to the jaw B and adapted to pass between the prongs a a substantially in line therewith when the jaws A B are closed. At the end of the turned-down end I) is a small wire hook (Z, having an upwardly-extending shank d, which passes through a forwardly-projecting lug b on said end I), and thence through an opening ()2 in the vertical port-ion, where its end is turned down to secure the same therein.

The wedge which I prefer to employin connection with my improved forceps consists of a thin strip of metal e, gradually decreasing in width from its ends toward the center and having at one end a small aperture 8' and at its opposite end a socket ortubular portion 0 on one side only, in which tubular portion is inserted a wooden wedge c tapering toward the opposite or eyelet end.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the wedge c composed entirely of metal provided with slightly corrugated tapering edges and at its small end with an eye or opening e. If found desirable, the jaws B of the forceps may be provided with an eyelet instead of the hook (Z, in which case the small end of the wedge would be provided with a slot or hook, as shown in Fig. 6.

The operation of myimproved forceps and wedge is as follows: The wedge is insertedfrom the inside between the teeth to be sep arated until the eyelet c in the end thereof protrudes from the front of the teeth. The forceps are held so as to place the elastic cushions a against the front of the teeth to be separated and the hook cl inserted in the eye 6' of the wedge. By compressing the handles the wedge is gently pulled through between the teeth until a sufficient opening is obtained, when the forceps are removed, leaving only the small end of the-wedgeprotruding. It will thus be seen that the forceps-are wholly without the month during the operation of adjusting. the wedge.

In Fig. 7 Iha-ve shown a modification of my invention as applied to a pair of scissor-forceps, in which A B are the clamping-jaws. The jaw A is provided'withtwo down-turned cushioned bearing-feet a, similar to those shown in Fig. 1, adapted to bear against thefront of two adjacent teeth, and thecnd of the jaw B is upturned at b, or toward the resser-feet a a and at its end is provided with a slight cavity adapted to engage with the head of the wcdgewithin the mouth to prevent the wedge slipping from the jaw.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-- 1. In forceps for adjusting dental wedges, the combination, with a jaw adapted to engage the wedge to be adjusted, of a second jaw having two cushioned presser-feet adapted to press upon the front of the teeth on opposite sides of the wedge, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. A dental wedge made substantially as described, in combination with wedge-adjusting forceps having one jaw bifurcated to form two presser-feet and the other jaw curved to pass between the prongs of the opposite jaw and provided with meansfor engaging said wedge, substantially as and for the-purposes described.

3. The combination, with a dental wedge havinganeye in its smallend, of foreeps for' adjusting the same, said forceps provided with a down wardly-curved pronged lower-jaw, the prongs of whichare parallel to each other and provided with elastic cushions at their ends, and a downwardly-curved upperjaw adapted to pass between the prongs of the lower jaw and provided with a detachable hook for-engaging the eye of said Wedge, substantially as and for the purposes described. 4. A dental wedge consisting of a strip of sheet metal having a tubularportion formed on one side thereof at one end to form a socket, and an eye at the other end, and a wooden wedge inserted in said socket, sub; stantially as and for the purposes described. In testimony whereof Iaflix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE JAMES DAVISON Vitnesses:

O. H. WARREN, IRVING L. BEVERIDGE. 

